The band started out as a solo acoustic act in 2006 with Chris playing local acoustic nights round the clubs in his home town, until a performance at a Children in Need charity gig when he was introduced to Darryl Ebbatson who suggested they take the songs into a studio to create an EP (Harbour EP 2010 SmallCogMusic).
Members: Simon Barley, Darryl Ebbatson, Chris Cooper.
After its release the EP was shortly followed by the album Harbour, released on Darryl’s own Indie label SmallCogMusic, which already catered for the likes of Eddie Baird and Amazing Blondel.
During the Promotion of the album in 2010 Chris and Darryl had begun to perform regularly, this is the point at which the solo act became a duo.
The album received (and is still receiving) good reviews from local music columns and BBC Introducing, with the duo playing guest slots on live lounges on BBC Raw talent,The James Hoggarth Show and KawShaw Radio Manchester.
In the summer of 2011 with the Harbour album still running strong in the ReverbNation Folk Charts for the area work began on new material for the next album, it was then that Chris and Darryl started to work with another Scunthorpe musician, Simon Barley, who had worked with Chris in the past and been asked to provide some piano on the new tracks.
It was then that it was decided to keep the line up set to three, with more ability onstage to change up instruments and give the set a stronger band feel to it.
In 2012 the band beat off over 30 others to win the Kings & Queens of the Open Mic competition at the Kings Bar in Hull which secured them a headlining spot at the 2012 Trinity Festival in Hull to add to their festival roster of 2012 which included appearances at Springboard, Trinity and SO Festival in Skegness. Other dates in the pipeline included.
Watch out for The Chris Cooper Band in 2013. Their stripes have been earned and their catalogue of songs strengthens as time passes by.
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‘A band to watch out for in 2011 very tasty…’
-BBC Raw Talent.
‘Proving that original music still has a home in Scunthorpe…’
– www.flatrabbitmusic.co.uk.
‘A hefty mix of melodic folk sprinkled with solid urban acoustic beats…’
– Music Crowns.
‘Fresh, fun and catchy’
– Scunthorpe Telegraph.
Website: www.smallcogmusic.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/chriscooperband
Twitter: @ChrisCooperBand
MySpace: www.myspace.com/thechriscooperband
